Press fears over China-Japan ties

Thousands visit the controversial shrine each year

Anger at Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi's visits to a shrine honouring Japan's war dead is unabated in the mainland Chinese press, sparked by the abrupt departure from Japan of visiting Chinese Vice-Premier Wu Yi.

In Hong Kong and Taiwan, some commentators believe recent events signify a hardening of China's stance towards its Asian neighbour.

Papers in Japan, meanwhile, differ on whether blaming China is the best solution.

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The memorial tablets of 14 Class A World War II criminals are consecrated at the Yasukuni shrine. Koizumi must know that these war criminals are executioners whose hands are soaked with the blood of the people of victimised countries... This is a problem which involves international justice and human morality.

China's Renmin Ribao

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By continuing to pay homage to war criminals, Koizumi deprives himself of respect from neighbouring countries. An empty apology cannot blow away the clouds that are hanging over bilateral relations.

China's China Daily

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Wu Yi's refusal to meet Koizumi shows that the Chinese government has changed its previous stance towards Japan, which gave priority to attaching importance to the general situation and pleading with tactful words.

Hong Kong's Ming Pao

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Wu Yi's sudden cancellation of the meeting actually shows that Hu Jintao is preparing to adopt a diplomatic line towards Japan that will be more hardline than before. And the hardline stance towards Japan is certainly not for Japan alone but is also for the US to see.

Taiwan's China Evening Times

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It is believed that Beijing is using this move of not meeting Koizumi to convey clearly to Japan that China has its bottom line and cannot accept Japanese government leaders paying respects at the Yasukuni shrine... China must protect its national interests - its diplomacy can no longer conceal its abilities and bide its time.

Hong Kong's Hong Kong Economic Times

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The cold-shoulder treatment dished out to Junichiro Koizumi is totally out of character for Ms Wu, a seasoned negotiator known for her ability to charm. It is also at odds with the approach to foreign policy that has generally - and successfully - been adopted by the central government.

Hong Kong's South China Morning Post

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A person who behaves rudely to another, for whatever reason, should apologise. This rule applies well - not only to relations among members of society but among nations around the world... It should be recognised, however, that China - not Japan - has been responsible for hampering efforts to improve the relationship between the two nations in recent years.

Japan's Yomiuri Shimbun

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The standoff should be settled through dialogue and will never be settled unless the two sides have an opportunity for discussion... Cancelling talks will lead to a closure of the path to dialogue. The confrontation can be settled only by constant dialogue.

Japan's Tokyo Shimbun

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We can never blame only China... It is unreasonable to dismiss the issue by regarding China's actions as interference in Japan's domestic affairs.

Japan's Asahi Shimbun

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